Occurrence of chlorinated and brominated dioxins/furans, PCBs, and brominated flame retardants in blood of German adults.

The median (95th percentile) concentrations, expressed as WHO2005-TEQ for PCDD/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs, were 6.2 (19.1) pg/g l.w. and 4.1 (8.8) pg/g l.w., respectively. PBDDs/Fs were found with a median of 2.8 pgTEQ/g l.w. and a 95th percentile of 8.7 pgTEQ/g l.w. (using similar interim TEF values as for PCDDs/Fs) On a median basis, the contribution of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs, and PBDDs/Fs to total TEQ were 47%, 31%, and 21%, respectively. The sum of the 6 non-dioxin-like PCBs exhibited a median of 267 ng/g l.w. and a 95th percentile of 834 ng/g l.w. The median value for the sum of six tetra- to hepta-PBDE congeners was 1.7 ng/g l.w. (95th percentile: 4.9 ng/g l.w.). BDE 209 was the most abundant congener with a median of 1.8 ng/g l.w. HBCDs were only found in some samples, and concentrations ranged between the limit of detection (5 ng/g l.w.) and the limit of quantification (16 ng/g l.w.). Results for PBDEs and HBCDs are comparable to other European studies. Our study demonstrated that the body burden of PCDD/Fs and PCBs declined continously since the last three decades, but exposure may exceed precautionary guideline levels.